SKINCARE ADVICE – Page 2

My favourite Body Scrubs

I started using body scrubs once in a while, usually as a pamper session before an occasion but I quickly fell in love with how soft and smooth it left my skin so this once in a while ritual turned into a monthly routine! Over time, in addition to body masks( another post for another time) and regular SPF use ( when any part of my body is out in the sun but ALWAYS for my face & neck), I have noticed my skin looks so much better and the dark marks I have on my legs are fading!

I have used a lot of bodyscrubs, I will be talking about my favs ones in this post and give you my DIY version too!

I prefer to use my scrubs on dry skin, starting from the leg up unless there are specific directions to use on damp skin. Be careful especially if the scrub has oils in it! It will leave a slippery mess in the tub (trust me I know), be sure to rinse the tub after you finish so that you don’t give the next person a scare! The ‘drier’ scrubs are less mess and easy to clean up afterwards.

Always massage in circular motions and use light pressure for best results. If you find you have nicked yourself afterwards it means you were scrubbing too hard. Once a week is fine or every two weeks, you don’t need to use a scrub daily. If you have dry skin, follow up with a lotion/moisturiser and of course for sensitive skin patch test first (and if you’re not sure if your skin will react to it)

Soap & Glory Flake Away and Sugar Crush Body scrubs

Flake Away by the far is the one I have constantly repurchased and used! Partly because I can always get it in the Christmas 3 for 2 offer or when it goes on sale: this is when I stock up! But the scent is also heavenly and it leaves your skin soft and smooth. It’s quite gentle and not very gritty. I prefer Flake Away to the Sugar Crush scent only because I find Scrub Crush scent too sweetly and it’s not as gritty.

Sanctuary Ultimate Spa Salt Scrub

This is heavenly skin in a tub! First off you get a lot which will last you a while. Then there’s that amazing scent that lingers even rinsing which makes you feel sexy. Then the oil in the scrub leaves the skin silky soft without leaving too much of a residue so you don’t even have to lotion afterwards (depending on your skin type, I can get away with it or just use a light lotion or oil). I love this scrub from 1^st use and I will definitely purchase this when I’m done (I was gifted this). It has enough grit without been too harsh. The oil leaves a huge slippery mess, be warned!

Sanctuary Ultimate Spa Body Scrub

So I used this at a friend’s house and fell in love with it! This feels more like a shower gel with enough grit and leaves your skin smelling great and smooth! It doesn’t foam so it’s not a substitute for shower gel. I added a bit of it to shower gel for a quick 2 in 1 pamper session and the results were great, it’s the least messy scrub I have used thanks to the texture and I will be buying it soon!

Delhicious Body Original Black Tea Body Scrub

I received this from a friend and I was really excited to put it to use. I normally use scrubs on dry skin but the directions say to use on wet skin and leave for 2-3 mins. First of the texture, it’s very gritty, you don’t need to pair this with exfoliating gloves and you also need use to light pressure. The scent, it kinda smells like sweet orange ( very very subtle) but overall the scent is ok. After I did my whole body, I did find my skin was slightly itching so I didn’t leave it on as directed. My skin though was super smooth afterwards. Again it’s messy as with all scrubs but because there isn’t a lot of oils in this it was easy to rinse away. I will try it again on dry skin to see if I experience the itchiness again. It wasn’t extreme or bad but I have never experienced itching when using a body scrub

DIY version

If you prefer to mix up your own bodyscrub head to your kitchen for ingredients! There are lots of recipes out there and it’s really cheap and easy to make. I will recommend just mixing enough for one batch, use fresh and discard the rest. I mean you can keep it in the fridge but will you really remember to use it in a week’s time?

What you need: brown sugar, salt, sweet almond or grapeseed oil, vitamin E, essential oil of your choice. Mix enough together for your whole body but only 2-3 tablespoons of the oils and a few drops of the essential oil. You don’t want a runny consistency.

More body scrub reviews: Dove Body Scrub

That’s all folks, if you have a fav body scrub, let me know!

Catch you later

some affiliate links used

Indie Lee COQ-10 Toner review

This particular toner has been on my wish list for a long time, every time I would get stuff off Beautylish I would add it to my basket, only to remove it at the last time because it tipped my haul over budget lol. I finally decided to get it last year for my birthday and ii have only gotten around to using this year around my birthday( lol this is a normal lifecycle for a product for me lool but it feels like I got this recently lol)

Anyway the review

What the brand says:

Hydrate and rebalance the skin with this Hyaluronic Acid and Aloe Vera based essence. Alcohol-free and formulated with antioxidant CoQ-10 and Sage, this non-drying formula leaves skin primed and protected from pollution and environmental aggressors.

Experience

I used this as my morning and evening toner, spritzing after cleansing and before serums. it has a subtle fresh scent and a fine mister. I didn’t experience any irritation with it.

After waiting so long to use this, was it worth it? Absolutely! The mist is fine and dries quickly. It leaves the skin very hydrated and softened. I was attracted to this because Q10 is a powerful antioxidant that helps to protect the skin against environmental aggressors. This also has aloe vera in it

Verdict

A lovely toner and I will definitely purchase the full size of this. The travel size I have is 30ml and it lasted just over a week and a bit. I really enjoyed using it and I’m happy I got it. The full size also comes with a spritzer.

If you want to try this but it’s out of your budget, the Inkey List have a Q10 serum which I also LOVE! Nivea also have an amazing Q10 plus Vitamin C range that I recommend.

The 30ml Indie Lee Toner is £10 on cultbeauty

My Favourite Moisturisers for Normal to Combination Skin

Hey everyone, I hope all is well.

Keeping the skin hydrated and moisturised is an important step in your skincare routine. Every skintype including oily skin needs moisture in order to keep it healthy and supple. I have tried a lot of moisturisers so in this post I will be recommending a few of my favourite ones.

My skintype is normal to combination oily. My skin tends to be oilier and blemish-prone in the spring/summer and more normal and dehydrated in the winter.

I tend to go for moisturisers without SPF so that I can use them in the evening too. I prefer to use a dedicated sunscreen in the AM over my moisturiser because I like to use a lot of SPF and using a lot of SPF moisturiser can feel slightly greasy. With that said, I have tried & loved some SPF moisturisers so I have also included them in the list.

A general rule: oilier skintypes can opt for gel/ lotion textured moisturisers as they are lighter and can provide hydration without feeling oily and all other skin types can use creams. I tend to mix and match and I don’t really stick to this rule. As long as the moisturiser is packed with good beneficial ingredients and I like it, I will stick with it.

Farmacy Honey Potion– this is a recent favourite and you can see why in my full review here. The texture is gel-like and it adds so much hydration to the skin. It’s lightweight and doesn’t leave the skin oily which is great for the most oiliest of skintypes. You will get hydrated soft and supple skin without no oil slick

Clinique Auto Hydrator– another lightweight gel textured moisturiser. I love using this, particularly at night. It sinks into the skin and leaves it glowing. I found it so soothing when I damaged my skin barrier due to over acid use. It leaves the skin supple and plump.

The Ordinary Natural Moisturising Factors– I love everything about this moisturiser: the price, the brand, the effectiveness. It’s got no oil, so it can moisturise the skin leaving it soft and no oily residue is left behind.

The BodyShop Vitamin C SPF30 Day Cream– ahh, Vitamin C and SPF? Yes, please! I haven’t picked this up since they changed the packaging (not sure if they changed the formula?) but it’s a lovely cream that leaves the skin soft and glowing. Whilst it’s not an oily finish, it can leave the skin looking a bit dewy so again if you prefer something matte, this isn’t for you. With this, you get added sun protection so it’s a step-less in your morning routine.

BeautyPie Daily Moisture Lotion: if you are a member of Beauty Pie you should check this out. It’s a lotion that doesn’t feel heavy on the skin. There is no oily residue and I like that it doesn’t pill under makeup. I have a full review here. It’s thick and creamy enough for normal skin and it doesn’t clog pores.

Murad Essential C SPF 30 Moisturiser– want glowing skin? This Murad moisturiser is super lightweight and leaves the skin glowing. I prefer this finish but if you prefer matte or you have oily skin then you may not like this. The moisturizer is part of the Essential C line which works to brighten and correct dark spots so it’s a 2 in 1 product. This is 100% invisible on dark skin so you can use pop on and go. I have slaughtered this on and reapplied during the day and I haven’t experienced any pilling.

Sunday Riley Tidal Moisturiser– In 2018-2019, the only brand I was checking for was Sunday Riley. This moisturiser is lightweight and leaves the skin hydrated, plump and glowing. The gel-like texture makes it a pleasure to use! Not only does this provide hydration but it also doubles up to brighten the skin with contained use, making this an excellent moisturiser if you have dark spots or pigmentation, just remember to use SPF afterwards!

Your Good Skin SPF 30– if you follow me on Instagram you will know how much I love this moisturiser! It’s effective, it’s affordable and easily accessible. I have a full review of the brand here. This one has SPF and antioxidants so you know you are getting much-needed protection from the skin and environment. It’s a lightweight lotion with a bit of a dewy finish. I don’t mind this but if you prefer a super matte finish then you may not like it.

These are my tried and approved moisturisers for all skintypes. Always remember to use SPF in the morning if your moisturiser doesn’t have it and to double at night!

What’s your favourite moisturiser?

My current Morning Routine

It’s now officially a month into my skin 2020 challenge and so far I have noticed HUGE improvements: my skin is almost texture free ( this is an ongoing issue but this is the longest I have been without any textural issues) and radiant, I still have hyperpigmentation( although the darkest spot is slightly lighter now)

One month in and I did do a skincare haul to get some more products in addition to my power serums. Check out what I got in my haul here and my star serums here.

Onto my morning routine

I like my morning routine to be fast and efficient so I like to concentrate on hydration and protection. It’s a relatively simple routine and quick too to get me out of the door!

Cleanse: I start with a cleanse in the shower to remove the dirt/excess oils and products from the night before. Some people prefer to wash with just water ( I don’t understand) but I use a face wash. I have just run out of the L’Oréal Fine Flowers Wash. My review is here. I am now using the Murad Essential C Cleanser.

Tone: shower done I move to my toner. I like to use hydrating toners in the morning and the one I’m currently using is the Garnier Rose Toner which is an exact dupe of Pixi Rose Tonic which I love! This toner is very easy to use, soothes and hydrates the skin and preps it for the next step.

Antioxidant Serum: next I like to use an antioxidant serum to help protect my skin from environmental aggressors and pollution and free radicals. I like to use a mixture of the Inkey List Vitamin C serum, the Ordinary Ferulic Acid 3% and Resveratrol 3% serum and Superdrug Hydrating Serum. Why? The vitamin C is in a water less silicone base which gives it a very gritty silicone texture and doesn’t feel great on the skin. By mixing the Ferulic & resveratrol serum which has an oil like texture, the overall texture is more pleasant to use PLUS Ferulic Acid & resveratrol are also antioxidants so I have getting a lot more protection( the more antioxidants you can use the better). The hydrating serum adds a touch of hydration to the mixture. The overall mixture feels like a lightweight lotion/serum and sinks into my skin well. It doesn’t PILL!

I’m actually taking a break from this mixture and using the Drunk Elephant C Firma day serum mixed with the B Hydra Hydration serum. I only have sample sizes of this, I got this as a late Christmas present so testing it out. DE is a brand that I have been interested in but their ridiculous prices and nasty attitude put me off them. So far I am not impressed by them but even if I was I won’t be purchasing( I have noticed some texture but whether it’s due to this or something else, time will tell. I usually get a spot or two after a facial and I just had one so it could be the facial, these serums or Mother Nature, time will tell).

Moisturiser/SPF– I usually prefer to use a moisturiser and a dedicated SPF product (because we don’t use enough SPF anyway so if have a SPF moisturiser you use less and may not be getting the full SPF stated on the product) but I had this SPF moisturiser I wanted to use and since it’s the winter period it was ok. The one I am currently using is the Kiehl’s SPF 30 moisturiser which I love. See the full review here and how it looks on dark skin. I SLAUGTHER this on and works well without any piling. Again I have finished this product, I have gone back to using Nivea SPF 50 spray layered on top of Beauty Pie Moisturiser (review here). Again no pilling

After this I wait around a bit to get ready before I move to makeup

Ignore the bags lol, this is my skin makeup free

Primer: I am currently mixing two primers only because I have had both of them of a while and I really need to get rid of them. Surprisingly they work extremely well together. I use the Emani Perfect 10 Primer Serum mixed with Makeup Forever Radiant Primer. These two deliver hydration, radiance (almost too radiant) and a little bit of colour correcting ( the MUFE primer is peach)

Foundation: my quick and easy go to for mornings is powder foundation. Literally I don’t have to spend minutes blending. I am currently using the MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation (and holding on to the last bits of it). This has a buildable coverage, covers my pigmentation and helps to even out the skin and doesn’t look dry or cakey.

Spray Setting: sometimes I set the powder and sometimes I don’t. I rotate these two setting sprays: Glamglow Glow setter (review here) and Obsession Dewy Fix- I have just run out of this in act this morning lol.

After this it’s a quick swipe of Carmex lip balm then I’m out of the door.

On the weekends or on days I have some time, I will throw in a mask, and it ranges from anything from a sheet mask to a cream mask: whatever my skin is feeling that day

The whole routine is probably 30 mins or less broken up into parts.

It’s so hard for me to write about my current skincare routine because I rotate my products frequently and I like to use the same routine for at least a month before I blog about it. I wrote this post a week and a half prior and in that time I have run out of stuff and switched things around lol.

I am working on my evening routine which will take a while so stay tuned. My evening routine is more time consuming (compared to the morning one but it’s no 20 step routine lol), that should come soon.

With spring around the corner, I will be testing out more sunscreens suitable for dark skin, in the meantime check out all the previous reviews I have done on my blog.

Skin Goals for 2020

I’ve been pretty consistent with my skincare routine and learning about new products, ingredients and techniques over the last 3 years. For 2020, I really wanted to level up my skincare game, use more advanced skincare and incorporate more clinic visits.

Why?

Because even though I have been good with my skin, I felt as though it had become ‘stagnant’ and some pigmentation and textural issues I was facing were not shifting. Of course this can be due to a lot of things but I reviewed my skincare routine and products and realised I needed to do more. With this in mind, I decided to get some ‘power serums’, serums that have been tried and tested and are best sellers for a reason.

My main aims this year and beyond is visibly healthier skin that is texture free and (hyper) pigmentation free. I have sorted my skincare now (slowly) and next I will be tackling my eating & sleeping habits because I know these have a huge impact on skin conditions.

Power Serums- I don’t know why I call them these but I have been wanting these products for a while so in the boxing day and New Year sales, I made sure to take advantage and get them

Lancôme Advanced Genifique Serum– Lancôme’s flagship serum, the Genifique has similar ingredients to the EL night serum. I remember I used a tiny sample a few years back and was impressed by it. I caught it in the Boxing day sale in a gift set with an eye cream and face cream for less than the price of a single serum.

Elizabeth Arden Superstart Skin Renewable Booster– I was introduced to this product at a skincare event last year and tried it very quickly on the back of my hands. The texture was nice. This is a booster serum so I don’t plan on using it alone, infact they recommend you use it before another serum to boost their effectiveness. I have started using this in combo with the Honeymoon Glow and I have been loving it so far. I also got this in a gift set so it came with samples of their flagship ceramide capsules and boy am I hooked- I may have to purchase these as well!

Farmacy Honeymoon Glow– I love Farmacy the brand so this serum was a no brainer. This is a high acid content 14% AHA BHA serum which resurfaces the skin. I have started using it and let me just say my skin has been so smooth! It stings (as expected) so I layer a hydrating cream after plus an oil. I use it for 1 week on 3 weeks off

Estee Lauder Advanced Repair Night Serum– this really is a repurchase, this time I have gone for the 50ml. whilst this serum doesn’t necessarily target hyperpigmentation, it leaves the skin texture free and visibly radiant. I fell in love with this serum almost instantly and when I finished it I knew it was something I needed to get again and be a staple in my routine.

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Intensive Ampoules: I had a deluxe size of this last year in a gift set I purchased and it was love at first use. When coupled with the night repair, your skin is left plump, hydrated and well rested and this was really tested in the summer when it was hot, I had little sleep and events to attend to. It really leaves the skin looking like you have had the best sleep ever and woke up with gorgeous smooth skin. Its pricey of course is it worth the full price?. I think it could be at least £15 pounds cheaper so when I saw it at the Estee Lauder Outlet store for £23 less than the original price plus an extra 10% off I immediately bought it ( then went the next day to get another tub lol)

I’m really excited about this year and my skin journey! In addition to these, I will be doing more facial and clinic visits (watch out for reviews). I will also be using other great ingredients like Vitamin C, hyaluronic acids and of course SPF! I also want to try more high-end skincare.

I am currently working on posting my current routines for AM & PM: these should be up soon

Catch you later.

Best of the Decade: Second Cleansers

This year I fell hard for double-cleansing. After I discovered that I could use makeup remover clothes from Primark ( they remove makeup with just water) with my balms, I fell in love. Double cleansing has definitely helped improve the texture of my skin and this year, I have tried a few balms and oils. These are the ones that stood out.

Beauty Pie Japanfusion Transforming Cleanser– I discovered this when I was doing my BP challenge and instantly fell in love. I finished this product in 2 weeks! The texture and performance are really top-notch and if you are a member of BP you get this for drugstore prices. Review

Farmacy Green Clean– this product is a classic Instagram made me do it… but it’s so worth it. it melts ever so easily and removes all traces of makeup! it’s a must. Review

Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing balm– a skincare community fav, I finally used it last year or the year before and I really liked it.

Tribalm- I was very intrigued with this product. It’s cleansing balm in stick form, it was the first for me and I really loved it. Review

Superdrug Vitamin E Cleansing oil- Superdrug Vitamin E range is great and tis product is one of my favourites. The oil cleansing the skin and rinses off easily.

Beauty Pie Plantastic Apricot Cleansing Balm– BP’s star product, I waited about 7 months for this product to come back in stock but after I got my hands on it, I can see why it’s so popular. The texture is like butter and it removes all makeup plus it rinses so easily. I need a backup! review

Do you love cleansing balms and oils? What do you use as a first cleanse? Double cleansing helps to ensure all makeup and debris are thoroughly removed. Technically you can use anything for double cleansing e.g two face washes but its best to use an oil-based cleanser first then a gel/foam cleanser afterwards. You can also use micellar water.

I hope your Christmas went well. Catch you later for the next instalment

Best of the Decade: Face washes

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I’m starting my Best series again with some of my favourite products I have used over the last years. I have used a lot of favourite washes over the past decade but these are some of the best products I keep repurchasing and recommending:

B Creamy Foam- this drugstore cleanser is one of the best low-cost cleansers I have used. With salicylic acid, it gently cleanses and smoothes the skin. Review

Dermalogica special cleansing gel– I remember using this many years back and fell in love with it. A luxury cleanser that gently cleanses the skin removing traces of makeup without stripping it. Review

Estee Lauder Micro-Foam- this year, I really fell hard for Estée Lauder. This cleanser produces a gentle foam which leaves the skin feeling clean without drying it out. Review

Pixi Glow Mud– this AHA cream cleanser was the first of its kind for me. It doesn’t foam which was also a first for me but it leaves the skin so soft, smooth and clean. Review

Murad AHA, BHA cleanser- what don’t I love about this cleanser? It’s a combination of 2 of my fav acids plus it leaves the skin clean and smooth. Review

Peter Thomas Roth anti-aging cleansing gel – PTR really have some of the best gift sets for a luxury brand. I got this cleanser in a giftset and immediately fell in love. It’s a luxury gel cleanser that rinses away easily and leaves the skin smoother. Review

Some by mi AHA BHA PHA cleansing bar– this year was a k beauty year for me. I bought a few items and one of the items I fell in love with was this bar facial cleansing soap from Some By Mi. the AHA BHA PHA combo leaves my skin so soft yet there isn’t a dry and tight feeling. Review

That’s all folks, check out these products and let me know what you think. these are some of my favourite face washes and I have used and reviewed all of these on my blog! So many other worthy products but I really want to keep my lists short. Check out my review index to see more reviews.

Catch you soon for another instalment.

Pixi Vitamin C Review

Pixi has been popular because of their Glow Tonic AHA toner. Whilst the makeup range isn’t the most diverse, I do like their skincare range and used a few of their products. This year, they expanded their skincare collection by adding new ranges including the Vitamin C range. The 6 product strong collection features a vitamin C toner, cleanser, serum, leave-on mask and lotion. I bought the travel size kit featuring the tonic, caviar balm and lotion. This post will be a full review of the latter two products.

The Vitamin C range has Vitamin C and promises to effortlessly brighten the complexion. The Vitamin C lotion is a lightweight daily moisturiser that can be used daily as part of a routine. The Caviar balm promises to leave the skin hydrated and brighter with encapsulated vitamin c in the form of a leave-on mask.

Experience

Both products smell great, the scent reminds me of a sweet orange essence scent. Both products have Ascorbic acid however in a medium length ingredient list, ascorbic acid is somewhere in the middle for the Caviar Balm and in the 6^th ingredient in the Vitamin C lotion. Both products have Ferulic acid and lactic acid. I experienced no irritation from both products.

Vitamin C lotion- I used this in my PM routine as my moisturiser. The lotion is lightweight and layers well over serums without pilling. It absorbs into the skin easily. Whilst I like that it was very easy to use in a routine, I do not think I experienced a lot of benefits from this. It did provide some hydration but it wasn’t long-lasting. In terms of brightening my skin, I can’t honestly say I saw a huge difference.

Caviar Balm- the caviar balm took me a little longer to add to my routine, I used this as a rinse-off mask. I do not like leave-on masks because I prefer to use serums and a moisturiser. The mask has the same sweet orange scent and almost the same texture as the lotion. The encapsulated vitamin looks and feels like slightly gritty but they easily melt into the skin whilst the mask I on. I leave this on for 10 mins before rinsing away. I do see a slightly brighter complexion but it’s not enough to blow me away.

Verdict

Out of the two, the only one I would think of repurchasing is the lotion only because of the added Ferulic acid which makes gives this added antioxidant benefits. It’s not super hydrating but it’s lightweight so it would be nice to use in the spring/summer. The caviar balm didn’t make much of a difference. whilst the collection has ascorbic acid, their position in the inkey list makes me question how effective they would be, however, they also have additional beneficial ingredients like vitamin e, Ferulic acid and lactic acid.

I think I would rather recommend something with pure vitamin c without a lot of fillers in it.

Pixi Vitamin C Lotion and Caviar Balm is available from Boots

Best Face Masks for Normal to Combination Skintypes

It’s hard to find a good face mask for combination skin types. I have normal to combination oily skin: my tzone is slightly oily and the other parts of my face are normal/slightly dry depending on the time of year. In the summer my skin is more normal to oily and blemish-prone. I have used a lot of face masks and I found a few that work well with my skintype no matter the season! These are my tried and tested best face masks for normal to combination skin types

Pixi Peel and Polish

This is a mild enzyme peel mask that leaves the skin radiant and smooth! I like this mask because it doesn’t sting the skin and leaves it in excellent condition for makeup. It can also double up as a gentle scrub, I have come away from using manual exfoliants but if you still like that in your routine (just not walnut scrubs) then this is a great 2 in 1 product for you.

Nip Fab Dragon’s Blood Jelly Mask

I especially love this mask in the fall/winter but you can never go through with a good hydrating mask no matter the season. This one from nip fab is formulated with Dragon’s Blood which leaves my skin hydrated and plump. I love adding a scoop of Vitamin C powder to this mask for a brightening boost.

Beauty Pie Fruitzyme Mask

If you are a member of BP then you should try this mask. I think it’s a dupe of the Pixi Peel and Polish however the texture of this is very ‘gel-like’ compared to Peel & Polish. This has fruit enzymes and acids which is responsible for leaving the skin smooth. I don’t use this weekly but once in a while when I am seeing texture or as a quick prep for makeup.

Kose Vitamin C Sheet Mask

Who does love Vitamin C in their diet and on their face?! This K beauty find was something I fell in love with straight away. It comes in a big pack of 30 and the vitamin C infused sheet mask helps to hydrate and brighten. I used this as a morning toner and I really liked how it left my skin. Read my full review here

Garnier Moisture Bomb Sheet Masks

I have to add another sheet mask to this list, Garnier Moisture Bomb sheet masks are some of my favourites from the drugstore. I love the original Moisture Bomb mask but I have also tried the Super Hydrating Glow Revealing Mask with Camomile and the Super Hydrating De tiring mask with Lavender. These sheets masks are packed with hyaluronic acid so they leave the skin very plump and hydrated.

Other masks I love are Nip Fab Extreme sheet masks, Glamglow Supermud, Youth mud and Thirst mud and Sephora sheet masks.

I hope you are able to try some of these masks, let me know if you pick any up!

Catch you later

Popular Products that did not work for me

Hey, guys, I hope all is well. I wanted to do this post because I am sure that, along with other beauty enthusiasts, I have tried a few popular products I just found to be mediocre. I love trying and discovering new products and brands but there are some popular products I have tried that just didn’t do it for me. In this post, I will be dishing on the hyped products that were just meeh for me

Sunday Riley Blue Moon Cleansing Balm

SR is so raved about in the beauty community and it’s been a brand on my radar for a while. Last year the GlossyBox limited edition made it possible to finally try the brand and tbh I was hooked on a few items. One of the best-selling products is the blue moon cleansing balm which also came in the box and it made me very happy.

I started using this last month and honestly after a week I was ready to throw it out! It has ‘grit’ which for a cleansing balm I found weird plus it doesn’t even dissolve easily. I also found the cleansing power of it mediocre. I was very disappointed so I stopped using it after a week! I have tried to use it again a few times but every time the balm touches my face I remember why I do not like it lol.

Charlotte Tilbury Dry Sheet Mask

So this mask was interesting in so many ways. A sheet mask that was dry and could be used up to 3 times? Yes. The first time I used it I was so impressed however most of the luminosity it promised was because of shimmer/glitter. The 2^nd and 3^rd time nada! Nothing happened and I felt like it may as well have been a one-time use mask.

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Concealer

CT is one of those people who can really sell their stuff. I bought this concealer because of the claims and I was so excited to try it. After going back and forth between shades I decided on shade 9. The concealer is simply ok, it’s unimpressive. The undertone is crap: it’s very pink, infact I have noticed most of her undertones are pinkish. The coverage is medium but buildable.

Bobbi Brown Instant Full coverage Concealer

I bought this after our BBT x Bobbi Brown masterclass. It may just be that I got a bad product because when I first swatched it at the event, it was creamy with full coverage. I then purchased it a few days later and what I got was a dry concealer which was difficult to spread and not creamy at all. I tried to contact BB afterwards but got nowhere. The concealer is so dried up it’s not useable: so that’s £23 pounds down the drain.

Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip – new formula

I finally tried the cult favourite, ceramic slip from SR this year. I fell in love with the old formula from 1^st use, it cleansed and brightened the skin. Whilst I was still waiting to use it, SR came out with a new formula so when I finished the old one, I purchased the new one to try. I do not like the new formula at all! The texture has changed and I feel as though it doesn’t have the same deep cleansing power as the former. They have also taken out the vitamin C in the new formula so I find that it’s not as brightening. It’s a shame because the old formula was perfect, I’m not sure why the formula changed but I won’t be getting it anymore!

That’s all folks! Skincare is really subjective, a lot of products may be perfect for one person but as soon as it touches your face, it becomes your worst nightmare. For luxury products, I always try to get a deluxe travel or sample to test out first, before splurging on the full price, where that is not possible, I always wait for a good sale/offer before purchasing that way I have saved some money so if I don’t like it then at least I didn’t buy it full price.

My advice for you if you have a product you don’t like: never throw it away( unless you are allergic to it etc), repurpose for your body, I can’t tell you how many face creams I have used as hand/body creams instead because I didn’t like the texture/scent OR how many face washes are brush cleansers!

See you soon!